The Nine Hells of Baator, also known as the Nine Hells, or the Hells of Despath in The Legend of Vox Machina,[1] is the plane of existence that forms the home plane of the devils.
It is a plane of evil and, unlike the Abyss, is highly organized with a strict caste system, each devil kneeling before those who are above them in hierarchy: lemures, lesser devils, greater devils (e.g. pit fiends), and archdevils who in turn all owe their fealty to Asmodeus.[2]
Layers[]
There are very few portals that will lead to the hells. To travel to one layer or circle[3] a person usually had to traverse through the other layers, starting at the first layer, Avernus.[4] However, Vox Machina used Plane Shift to travel directly between the Material Plane and the second layer, Dis.[5][6]
Avernus[]
Avernus is the first layer of the Nine Hells, and the arrival point for most visitors to the Hells. Avernus is a rocky wasteland with rivers of blood and clouds of biting flies. The Archduchess who rules over Avernus is the fallen angel Zariel.[7]
Tiamat is a prisoner on this layer of the Nine Hells.[8]
Dis[]

Fan art of the City of Dis, by BlackSalander.[art 1]
Dis is the second layer of the Nine Hells, a labyrinth of canyons, sheer mountains that are filled with iron ore. There are iron roads that span through the canyons with bridges that lead over giant crevasses and dark landscapes toward the Iron City of Dis, which is ruled by an archdevil Dispater.[9]
Minauros[]
Minauros is the third layer of the Nine Hells, a bog-like place, but still more welcoming than Avernus, according to Braius Doomseed.[10] The archdevil who rules over Minauros is presumably Mammon.[11]
Phlegethos[]
Phlegethos is the fourth layer of the Nine Hells, a flaming realm of tortured souls whose energy is sometimes stolen and trafficked in other layers of this plane. The archdevil who rules over Phlegethos is Fierna.[12]
Nessus[]
Asmodeus, Lord of the Hells, rules from his fortress, Malsheem, on this deepest layer of the Hells.[13]
Creatures[]

Fan art of Utugash, a Pit fiend, by Linda Lithén.[art 2]
- Cambions
- Devils
- Bearded devils[14]
- Bone devils
- Chain devils
- Erinyes
- Horned devils
- Imps
- Lemures
- Pit fiends
- Spine devils
- Rakshasas
- Succubi/Incubi

Fan art of Hotis, by David Rodrigues.[art 3]
Notable inhabitants of the Hells[]
- Asmodeus, Lord of the Hells
- Zariel, archdevil of the first layer of the Nine Hells
- Dispater, archdevil of the second layer of the Nine Hells
- Fierna, archdevil of the fourth layer of the Nine Hells[15]
- Ghurrix, a pit fiend serving as ambassador to the Elemental Plane of Fire until assassinated by Vox Machina on behalf of Juuraiel
- Utugash, a pit fiend who bought Tova to torture her and was ultimately assassinated by Vox Machina on behalf of his subordinate Ipkesh
- Hotis, a rakshasa who became a repeat threat to Vox Machina until they went to the Nine Hells to destroy him for good
History[]
The Founding[]
By one account, Asmodeus turned celestials into the first devils;[16] under that (supposed) fallen angel, they turned to tyranny, and forged new hells.[17] By another account, the Betrayer Gods imposed order on some demons and turned them into devils.[18]
As the Betrayers were defeated in the Dawn War, they were trapped in what Asmodeus later described as "not a kind place [...] a place made to teach us a lesson."[19] The chronicle of Vasselheim holds that the Betrayer Gods had themselves warped their planes into reflections of their evil.[20] In texts about this Schism, Asmodeus is usually reputed to have been the Betrayer God who made a threat as he was being banished: "Put me where you will. In darkness, I will gather my shadows to me." The dragons who protected the mortal races took this threat seriously.[21]
Campaign One: Vox Machina[]
In 811 PD, Vox Machina traveled to the City of Dis to permanently slay Hotis, who was regenerating in Mentiri. To accomplish their goal, they helped a cambion named Ipkesh by slaying his boss, a pit fiend named Utugash, in exchange for being transported to Mentiri intact and set loose. Along the way, they rescued Tova, who helped them complete their task.
Between campaigns[]
The adventures of Arkhan the Cruel after the banishment of Vecna haven't been established as Critical Role canon, but according to Joe Manganiello, Arkhan has a keep on Avernus near his deity's prison. After the defeat of Vecna in Vasselheim, Arkhan took his newly-acquired Hand of Vecna and Teleported back to his keep in Avernus. As of Campaign Two, he was still trying to unlock the Hand's power in order to free the Scaled Tyrant and unleash the Dragon Queen upon the other planes of existence.[22]
At some point between 812 and 843 PD, Keyleth returned to the Hells, and visited a layer other than Dis.[23]
Trivia[]
- The Nine Hells have ambassadors residing in the City of Brass, on the Elemental Plane of Fire.[24]
- After the apogee solstice of 843 PD the forces of the Nine Hells were preparing an attack against Ruidus.[25]
- In The Legend of Vox Machina, the Hells were referred to as "The Hells of Despath".[26] Since the names are similar it is likely that "Despath" is a reference to Dispater, the archdevil of Dis, which is the only and most notable location Vox Machina visit in this plane, both in the campaign and the animated series.
References[]
- ↑ See "Prisoners of Ank'Harel" (LVM3x02) at 0:23:52.
- ↑ See "Vox Machina Go to Hell" (1x91) at 27:00.
- ↑ See "Looming" (3x108) at 0:54:51. The cast uses "circle" instead of layer, and in general D&D lore both terms are used interchangeably to refer to the Nine Hells.
- ↑ See "Voice of the Tempest" (1x90) at 2:04:02.
- ↑ Plane Shift from the Prime Material Plane to the City of Dis. See "Vox Machina Go to Hell" (1x91) at 1:14:45.
- ↑ Plane Shift from the City of Dis back to the Prime Material Plane. See "Jugs and Rods" (1x94) at 17:23.
- ↑ See "Voice of the Tempest" (1x90) at 2:04:02.
- ↑ See "Voice of the Tempest" (1x90) at 2:04:02.
- ↑ See "Voice of the Tempest" (1x90) at 2:04:44.
- ↑ See "Looming" (3x108) at 0:54:51.
- ↑ See D&D: Dungeon Master's Guide, 5th ed., p. 64.
- ↑ See "Deals in the Dark" (1x92) at 1:07:12.
- ↑ See Explorer's Guide to Wildemount, p. 26. Malsheem is mispelled as "Nalsheem".
- ↑ See "Vox Machina Go to Hell" (1x91) at 1:43:42.
- ↑ See "Deals in the Dark" (1x92) at 1:07:12. A devil talking with Vox Machina doesn't dare to speak her name, saying instead "her of the fourth layer".
- ↑ See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, p. 34.
- ↑ See Explorer's Guide to Wildemount, p. 12.
- ↑ See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, p. 14.
- ↑ See "Bitterness and Dread" (E3x02) at 4:10:55.
- ↑ See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, p. 15.
- ↑ See "Excelsior" (E3x01) from 3:03:49 through 3:07:04.
- ↑ See "Joe Manganiello and Chris Perkins talk Avernus and Arkhan" at 0:52.
- ↑ In 843 PD, Keyleth said she'd "been to a couple" of the Hells. See "The Cradle's Convocation" (3x104) at 1:28:59. She had visited only Dis by the end of Campaign One.
- ↑ See "Where the Cards Fall" (1x75) at 1:02:18.
- ↑ See "Ancient Sins" (3x97) at 3:10:06.
- ↑ See "A Deadly Bargain" (LVM3x01) at 23:58.
Art:
- ↑ Fan art of the City of Dis, by BlackSalander (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Utugash, a Pit fiend, by Linda Lithén (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Hotis, by David Rodrigues (source). Used with permission.
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